Vehicle having axial supporting wheels engageable with load bearing driving rollers

ABSTRACT

A vehicle having elongated, flexible-walled wheels carrying a load on their axles and having one or more load supporting rollers engageable with the outer periphery of the wheel. The vehicle being axially driven and/or roller driven. The rollers being movable relative to the wheels into and out of contact with the wheel. The wheels including a plurality of cleats for providing a gripping relationship with the ground and the outer periphery also including at least one portion free of cleats extending circumferentially around the wheel for engaging one or more supporting and/or driving rollers. The smooth portion on the wheel including a plurality of continously circumferentially wrapped layers of material whose outer edges decrease inwardly to the wheel.

United States Patent 1 I Holand, Sr.

VEHICLE HAVING AXIAL SUPPORTING WHEELS ENGAGEABLE WITH LOAD BEARINGDRIVING ROLLERS U.S. CI 180/74, 152/9, 152/209, 280/D1G. 7

Int. Cl 860k 9/00 Field oi Search 180/74; 280/DIG. 7; 152/209 ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1961 Albee 180/74 11/1958 Wald et a1.

4/1965 Gower-Rempel.... I: ..305/34 3/1962 Larson et a] ..180/74X [11113,744,585 1 July 10, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan AssistantExaminer-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney-James F. Weller, Jefferson D.Giller, William A. Stout, Paul L. Deverter, Dudley R. Dobie, Jr. andHenry W. Hope [57] ABSTRACT A vehicle having elongated, flexible-walledwheels carrying a load on their axles and having one or more loadsupporting rollers engageable with the outer periphery of the wheel. Thevehicle being axially driven and/or roller driven. The rollers beingmovable relative to the wheels into and out of contact with the wheel.The wheels including a plurality of cleats for providing a grippingrelationship with the ground and the outer periphery also including atleast one portion free of cleats extending circumferentially around thewheel for engaging one or more supporting and/or driving rollers. Thesmooth portion on the wheel including a plurality of continouslycircumferentially wrapped layers of material whose outer edges decreaseinwardly to the wheel.

25 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures WWW/7a? w s I]? BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVehicles having axially elongated, flexible-walled wheels which areperipherally loaded and driven such as shown in Reissue US. Pat. Nos.24,272 and 2,990,026 have been used in the past. However, such rollerdriven vehicles, in certain environments, such as mud and swamps, failto provide the necessary traction and drive requirements as slippageoccurred between the roller and the wheel and also between the wheel andthe ground. In addition, vehicles having an axially elongated,flexible-walled wheel have been used which are axially driven. Whilethese latter vehicles have provided sufficient drive, their use has beenlimited to a small load carrying capacity.

The need has arisen for a load carrying vehicle for carrying heavy loadsin off-the-road environment such as rough, uneven or rocky ground, orover soft or difficult terrain, such as sand, swamps, snow or mud, orupon water using an axially elongated, flexible-walled,fluid-distensible wheel. The present invention is directed to variousimprovements in an axially elongated, flexible-walled wheel having ahigh load capacity and- /or a high drive or pulling capacity.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a vehicle having aplurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled ground contacting wheelswith coaxial axle means supporting a load sustaining structure in whichthe outer periphery of the wheel includes at least one smoothcircumferentially extending surface and one or more load sustainingrollers connected to the structure and engageable with the smoothportion of the wheel.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision ofmeans for moving the rollers relative to the wheels for moving therollers into contact with the smooth portions of the wheel forsupporting a part of the load from the upper portion of the wheelthereby carrying greater loads, and for moving the rollers out ofcontact with the wheel when the vehicle is carrying lighter loads.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision ofpower drive means connected to either or both of the axle means and therollers for powering the vehicle..

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of anaxially elongated and flexible-walled wheel having a plurality of cleatsthereon to provide traction with the ground and including one or morecircumferentially extending smooth portions for providing a wearingsurface, drive force surface and load bearing surface for contact by toprollers with the smooth portion constructed to provide a wheel that willwithstand the forces imposed thereon to provide a long life.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of anaxially elongated, flexible-walled ground contacting wheel having one ormore radially outwardly extending circumferentially smooth wearing padportions on the outer portion of the wheel which pad portion includes aplurality of continuously circumferentially wrapped layers of materialwith one or more rollers engageable with each smooth wearing pad whichmay be moved into and out of contact with the wheel for load carryingand powering as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partlyschematic, illustrating a vehicle according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of another embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partly schematic, illustrating anotherembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating theconstruction of the wheel of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,particularly to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates avehicle of the present invention which generally includes a loadsustaining structure 12 for supporting any suitable load and a pluralityof wheels 16, here shown for convenience only as being four.

The wheels 16 are axially elongated, flexible-walled, fluid-distensiblewheels such as air bags generally disclosed in Reissue US. Pat. No.24,272. Wheels 16 have suitable coaxially axle means 18 such as meanswhich may projectfrom each end of the wheels 16 for connection to andsupporting the load structure 12. Suitable drive means includingdifferential 20 are connected to the axles 18 for axially driving thewheels 16 and thus the vehicle 10. Of course, the drive means may beomitted, for example if the vehicle 10 is a trailer. In order to providesufficient drive traction and a gripping relationship of the wheels 16'with the ground, a plurality of cleats 22 are provided about the outerperiphery of the wheels 16 extending in size and spacing sufficient togive good traction depending on such factors as load and environment.However, the amount of axial loads which can be carried by the wheels 16is limited as under heavy loads the tires 16 will tend to belly upwardand make injurious contact with the load structure 12. Therefore, one ormore top rollers 24 are provided connected to the load supportingstructure 12 so as to be engageable with the wheels 16 and whichfunction as overload and/or powered rollers as desired to increase theloading capacity and/or the drive capacity of the vehicle 10. In orderthat the cleats 22 do not interfere with the rollers 24, the outerperiphery of the wheel 16 includes one or more circumferentially smooth,portions 26, which mayinclude a pad as. more fully describedhereinafter, aligned with each of the rollers 24 which provide a surfaceof contact. Suitable means, either vertically moving or horizontallymoving, such as the horizontally moving cylinder and piston assemblies32, may be provided for moving the rollers 24 into and out of contactwith the cleat free portions 26 of the wheels 16.

Of course, any desired number of rollers 24 may be positioned forengagement with each of the cleat free smooth portions 26 and forconvenience only, as best seen in FIG. 1, two rollers 24 are shown forengagement with each of the cleat free smooth portions 26. As shown inFIG. 1, the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 32 may be actuatedby suitable controls (not shown) for moving one or all of the rollers 24into engagement with the wheels 16. As shown in FIG. 1, for purposes ofillustration only, all of the rollers 24 are in engagement with thefirst set of wheels 16, but only one of the rollers is in engagementwith the second set of wheels 16. Of course, all of the rollers 24 canbe actuated to be moved into total engagement with the wheels 16 orcompletely retracted out of engagement if desired. The number of rollers24 which are placed in engagement with the wheels 16 depends upon theload carried by the vehicle. The greater the load, the more of therollers 24 would be placed in contact for either load supporting and/ordrive. And, of course, if the load was sufficiently light, all of therollers 24 would be removed from contact with the wheels 16 and the loadwould be supported entirely from the axles 18 as the rollers 24 wouldnot be needed and it would be desirable to retract them for reducingunnecessary friction and wear.

In addition, suitable drive means are connected from a drivetransmission 42 to each of the rollers 24 for powering the rollersagainst the smooth portions 26 to provide drive solely by the rollers 24or as additional drive for the vehicle 10.

It is noted that the cleat free portions 26 and the rollers 24, whenused with a wheel having cleats 22, are of a small axial length ascompared to the axial length to the wheels 16 so as not to adverselyreduce the periphery surface of the wheel 16 containing the cleats 22,but yet provide a structure to supplement the load carrying capacityand/or drive capacity of the axial drive system of the wheels 16.However, in some uses the cleats 22 may be entirely omitted and theportions 26 and rollers 24 may be of greater axial extent. For examplein snow, mud, slime, and water, a cleated wheel is more suitable and thecleated portions should be of greater axial width. However, on sand,hard ground, and rocks, a wheel with less cleat area is more suitable.

While the embodiment of FIGS. l-3 having a plurality of pads 26 and aplurality of rollers 24 in contact with each pad is desired for maximumload carrying and drive capacity, the embodiment of FIG. 4 having onlyone smooth portion 26 for each wheel 16 and one roller 24 for eachportion 26 may be used for lighter capacity vehicles 10.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6, another embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. This embodiment is similar to the embodiments ofFIGS. l-4 with the exception that the rollers 24 may be moved verticallyinto and out of contact with the wheels 16, such as by means ofhydraulic rams 40 which raise and lower the rollers 24, and their drivedifferential 42. This embodiment of vertically moving the rollers 24 hasthe advantage that the amount of load desired to be carried by therollers can be easily adjusted by the distance the rollers 24 are movedtoward and against the wheels 16.

Preferably, the smooth portions 26 of the wheels 16 are built up orextend from the surface of the wheels 16 to form pads which canperiodically be replaced as required. Referring now to FIG. 7, afragmentary crosssectional view of one example only of a pad of thesmooth portion 26 of the wheel 16 is best seen. Generally, the roller 24causes excessive wear at the contact edges of both the roller 24 and thewheel 16 and the roller 24 and wheel 16 surfaces may be soon worn beyonduse. The use of a pad in the smooth portions 26 furnishes a wearingsurface, a drive force surface, and a load bearing surface and avoidsthe possibility of wearing out the usual smooth tire in a short serviceperiod. For example only, the pad 26, which is bonded to the carcass 44of the wheel 16 may include a first layer 46 of 0.080 inch liner stock,three layers 48 of 0.044 rayon cord stock wrapped circumferentially andfive layers 50 of 0.125 tread stock wrapped continuously andcircumferentially around, to provide a height of approximately 1 inch,and extend outwardly approximately the same amount as the cleats 22.Both the pad 26 and the cleats 22 may be replaced when worn byretreading to the carcass 44. Of course, the exact construction, size,and type of pad would be determined by the use, the load and theenvironment in which the vehicle is used.

The pad 26 construction described advantageously limits the crinklingand loosening of the pad 26 from the carcass 44 of the wheel 16 underuse. That is, the continuous circumferentially wrapping of the multiplelayers 48 and 50, properly tensed, holds the pad 26 in place and to thecarcass 44 of the wheel 16 and keeps the rubber in the carcass fromstretching and tearing the pad from the carcass by the forces exerted bythe rollers 24. Preferably, the pad 26 inclues a transition portion 52of decreasing thickness at each outer edge both to provide a greaterbonding surface and flexibility relative to the outer edges of the pads26 relative to the carcass 44 and to provide a wider pad 26 surface thanthe width of the contacting rollers 24. Such transition portion may beof any suitable contour such as quarter-round, skew, ogee or tapered asshown. Pads 26 and cleats 22 are more effective if tapered to the outerperiphery of the wheel.

In use, the vehicle 10 may be powered through the differential 20 toprovide an axial drive whereby the cleats 22 will provide traction undervarying types of ground conditions. However, in the event that increasedload capacity or drive performance is desired, one or more of therollers 24 may be moved into engagement with the upper portion of thewheels 16 on the pads 26. The rollers 24 may function as either overloadrollers to support a portion of the load bearing structure 12 from thewheels 16, or in addition, may be driven through drive .means 42 toprovide drive solely by the rollers 24 or as additional drive power forthe vehicle. Of course, if the rollers 24 are not needed, they areretracted away from the wheels to avoid unnecessary wear. And thevertical moving rollers of FIGS. 5 and 6, in particular, can be variablyadjusted so that the amount of load carried by the rollers 24 can beeasily adjusted..And, of course, the present invention may be used on atrailer vehicle by omitting the drive means.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as othersinherent therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising,

a plurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled, fluiddistensibleground contacting wheels, each wheel including coaxial axle means,

a load sustaining structure connected to and supported from the axlemeans,

each said wheel outer periphery including at least one smooth padportion extending radially outward from the periphery of said wheels andcircumferentially extending about the wheel, said axial extent of saidpad being less than the axial extent of said wheel, and

at least one load sustaining roller connected to the structure andengageable with said smooth pad portion of each wheel, and the axialextent of the pad being at least as great as the axial extent of theroller for preventing the roller from contacting the wheel, and

the surface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and theroller remaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducingthe difference of relative peripheral velocities between the pad and theroller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

power means connected to the axle for axially driving said wheels.

3. The invention of claim 2 including,

power means connected to said roller for providing additional drivepower for the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

power means connected to said roller for driving said vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said smooth outer periphery padportion of said wheel includes,

a plurality of continuously circumferentially wrapped layers ofmaterial.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

means for moving said roller relative to said wheel to move the rollerinto and out of contact with the smooth pad of the wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pad portion includes atransition portion decreasing inwardly at its outer edges to the wheel.

8. A vehicle comprising,

a plurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled, fluiddistensibleground contacting wheels, each wheel including coaxial axle means,

a load sustaining structure connected to and sup ported from the axlemeans,

said wheels outer periphery including a plurality of cleats extendingoutwardly for providing a gripping relationship with the ground, I

at least one portion of the outer periphery of said wheels being free ofsaid cleats and including a smooth pad portion extending radiallyoutward from the periphery of said wheels and extendingcircumferentially about said wheel for providing a continuoussubstantially smooth circumferential pad portion, said axial extent ofsaid pad being less than the axial extent of said wheel,

at least one load sustaining roller connected to said structure andengageable with each of the circumferential smooth pad portions of saidwheels, the axial extent of the pad being at least as great as the axialextent of the roller for preventing the roller from contacting thewheel,

the surface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and theroller remaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducingthe difference of relative peripheral velocities between the pad andtheroller,

power means connected to the axle means for axially driving said wheels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including,

power means connected to the rollers for additional driving the wheelswith the rollers.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein,

the pad extending radially outward from the outer periphery of saidwheels including a plurality of continuous circumferentially wrappedlayers of material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pad portion includes atransition portion decreasing inwardly at the outer edges to the wheel.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 including,

a plurality of said cleat free circumferential smooth pad portionsseparated from each other, and

at least one roller engageable with each said smooth portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 including,

more than one roller engageable with each said smooth pad portion.

14. A vehicle comprising,

a plurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled, fluiddistensibleground contacting; wheels, each wheel including coaxial axle means,

a load sustaining structure connected'to and supported from the axlemeans,

said wheels outer periphery including a plurality of smooth pad portionsseparated from each other and extending radially outward from theperiphery of the wheel and circumferentially about the wheel,

the axial extent of each said pad being less than the V axial extent ofsaid wheel, the axial extent of the pad being at least as great as theaxial extent of the roller for preventing the roller fromcontacting thewheel,

at least one load sustaining roller connected to the.

structure and engageable with each smooth pad portion, and

the surface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and theroller remaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducingthe difference of relative peripheral velocities between the pad and theroller.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 including,

more than one roller engaging each of said smooth pad portions.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 including,

means for moving said rollers relative to said wheels to move therollers into and out of contact with the smooth pads of the wheels.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said smooth outer periphery padportions of said wheels includes,

a plurality of continuously circumferentially wrapped layers ofmaterial.

18. The apparatus of claim including,

power means connected to said rollers for providing drive power for thevehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, including,

power means connected to the axle means for axially driving said wheels.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 including,

power means connected to the axle means foraxially driving said wheels.

21. A vehicle comprising,

a plurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled, fluiddistensibleground contacting wheels, each wheel including coaxial axle means,

a load sustaining structure connected to and supported from the axlemeans,

said wheels outer periphery including a plurality of cleats extendingoutwardly for providing a gripping relationship with the ground,

said wheels outer periphery including a plurality of smooth pad portionsbeing free of said cleats separated from each other and extendingradially outward from the periphery of the wheel said axial extent ofsaid pads being less than the axial extent of said wheel, andcircumferentially about the wheel,

at least one load sustaining roller connected to the structure andengageable with each smooth pad portion, the axial extent of the padbeing at least as great as the axial extent of the roller for preventingthe roller from contacting the wheel, and

the surface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and theroller remaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducingthe difference

1. A vehicle comprising, a plurality of axially elongated,flexible-walled, fluiddistensible ground contacting wheels, each wheelincluding coaxial axle means, a load sustaining structure connected toand supported from the axle means, each said wheel outer peripheryincluding at least one smooth pad portion extending radially outwardfrom the periphery of said wheels and circumferentially extending aboutthe wheel, said axial extent of said pad being less than the axialextent of said wheel, and at least one load sustaining roller connectedto the structure and engageable with said smooth pad portion of eachwheel, and the axial extent of the pad being at least as great as theaxial extent of the roller for preventing the roller from contacting thewheel, and the surface of the pad at the line of contact between the padand the roller remaining substantially parallel to the axle means forreducing the difference of relative peripheral velocities between thepad and the roller.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including, power meansconnected to the axle for axially driving said wheels.
 3. The inventionof claim 2 including, power means connected to said roller for providingadditional drive power for the vehicle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1including, power means connected to said roller for driving saidvehicle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said smooth outer peripherypad portion of said wheel includes, a plurality of continuouslycircumferentially wrapped layers of material.
 6. The apparatus of claim1 including, means for moving said roller relative to said wheel to movethe roller into and out of contact with the smooth pad of the wheel. 7.The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pad portion includes a transitionportion decreasing inwardly at its outer edges to the wheel.
 8. Avehicle comprising, a plurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled,fluid-distensible ground contacting wheels, each wheel including coaxialaxle means, a load sustaining structure connected to and supported fromthe axle means, said wheels outer periphery including a plurality ofcleats extending outwardly for providing a gripping relationship withthe ground, at least one portion of the outer periphery of said wheelsbeing free of said cleats and including a smooth pad portion extendingradially outward from the periphery of said wheels and extendingcircumferentially about said wheel for providing a continuoussubstantially smooth circumferential pad portion, said axial extent ofsaid pad being less than the axial extent of said wheel, at least oneload sustaining roller connected to said structure and engageable witheach of the circumferential smooth pad portions of said wheels, theaxial extent of the pad being at least as great as the axial extent ofthe roller for preventing the roller from contacting the wheel, thesurface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and the rollerremaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducing thedifference of relative peripheral velocities between the pad and theroller, power means connected to the axle means for axially driving saidwheels.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 including, power means connected tothe rollers for additional driving the wheels with the rollers.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein, the pad extending radially outward fromthe outer periphery of said wheels including a plurality of continuouscircumferentially wrapped layers of material.
 11. The apparatus of claim10 wherein said pad portion includes a transition portion decreasinginwardly at the outer edges to the wheel.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8including, a plurality of said cleat free circumferential smooth padportions separated from each other, and at least one roller engageablewith each said smooth portion.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 including,more than one roller engageable with each said smooth pad portion.
 14. Avehicle comprising, a plurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled,fluid-distensible ground contacting wheels, each wheel including coaxialaxle means, a load sustaining structure connected to and supported fromthe axle means, said wheels outer periphery including a plurality ofsmooth pad portions separated from each other and extending radiallyoutward from the periphery of the wheel and circumferentially about thewheel, the axial extent of each said pad being less than the axialextent of said wheel, the axial extent of the pad being at least asgreat as the axial extent of the roller for preventing the roller fromcontacting the wheel, at least one load sustaining roller connected tothe structure and engageable with each smooth pad portion, and thesurface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and the rollerremaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducing thedifference of relative peripheral velocities between the pad and theroller.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 including, more than one rollerengaging each of said smooth pad portions.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14including, means for moving said rollers relative to said wheels to movethe rollers into and out of contact with the smooth pads of the wheels.17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said smooth outer periphery padportions of said wheels includes, a plurality of continuouslycircumferentially wrapped layerS of material.
 18. The apparatus of claim14 including, power means connected to said rollers for providing drivepower for the vehicle.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, including, powermeans connected to the axle means for axially driving said wheels. 20.The apparatus of claim 18 including, power means connected to the axlemeans for axially driving said wheels.
 21. A vehicle comprising, aplurality of axially elongated, flexible-walled, fluid-distensibleground contacting wheels, each wheel including coaxial axle means, aload sustaining structure connected to and supported from the axlemeans, said wheels outer periphery including a plurality of cleatsextending outwardly for providing a gripping relationship with theground, said wheels outer periphery including a plurality of smooth padportions being free of said cleats separated from each other andextending radially outward from the periphery of the wheel said axialextent of said pads being less than the axial extent of said wheel, andcircumferentially about the wheel, at least one load sustaining rollerconnected to the structure and engageable with each smooth pad portion,the axial extent of the pad being at least as great as the axial extentof the roller for preventing the roller from contacting the wheel, andthe surface of the pad at the line of contact between the pad and theroller remaining substantially parallel to the axle means for reducingthe difference of relative peripheral velocities between the pad and theroller.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 including, power means connectedto the axle means for axially driving said wheels.
 23. The apparatus ofclaim 21 including, power means connected to said rollers for providingdrive power for the vehicle.
 24. The apparatus of claim 22 including,power means connected to said roller for providing drive power for thevehicle.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21 including, more than one rollerengageable with each smooth pad portion.